Method of detecting an acceleration

US8537368B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University · US

Inventors

• Onur Kilic · Palo Alto, US
• Michel J. F. Digonnet · Palo Alto, US
• Gordon S. Kino · Stanford, US
• Olav Solgaard · Stanford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 7, 2013
• Grant date: Sep 17, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 7, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B82Y20/00
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method detects an acceleration. The method includes providing a spatial mode filter positioned such that light emitted from the spatial mode filter is reflected by at least a portion of a reflective surface. The spatial mode filter and the portion of the reflective surface form an optical resonator having an optical resonance with a resonance lineshape. The method further includes emitting light from the spatial mode filter and irradiating the portion of the reflective surface. The portion of the reflective surface is responsive to acceleration of the optical resonator by changing curvature. The method further includes measuring a change of the resonance lineshape due to the acceleration of the optical resonator.